San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-23

Ndlk6u SLOWLY 10 MS sue. lldClnp IL
down, she was about TO return To her
seat, when Vane looked up, his brOnzed
face passion pale, a weary look in his
deep gray eyes, tremOr in his usually
strong voice.
Then there is to be no peace and
goodwill between us this Christmas
morning."
The yearning tones, the infinite pain
in his naughty face shook the girls
pride to its deepest depths. Then love
whispered her to be true to her better
self, and but for the words that so
quickly followed, their miserable mis-
understanding might have disappeared
as n mist before the MONDAY sun on
this clear December day.
Il offered you yesterday, unasked,
the forgiveness that to another woman
could, never should, have been spoken"
Fatal speech! Her anger again rose
predominant.
Forgiveness and for what?" she
said, scornfully. Remember, Captain
Vane, that | am not in the habit of ask
ing pardon, even when, perhaps,
ought to seek it; but from you it's alb
urd-madness-to expect such thing;
and if peace between us depends on my
begging for it, there will be war be-
tween us now and for ever"
Impatient of what he considered such
heartless conduct, he held out his hand.
Goodbye, Miss Carlingford" lie
spoke loudly enough for Bella to hear
as she entered the room, looking ex-
tremely piPtdnte in the daintiest of win
ter costumes, in which she had deter
mined to astonish and subjugate the
natives of this primitive village. Good
bye, Miss Fortescue! | am leaving here
to-day; in fact at once. Please to ac-
cept the usual Christmas greetings"
And then shaking hands with her, he
left the room.
'IIas Daddy been giving you ser
mon before church? What was his
text? Put not your trust in woman
Do wake up, Ethel; yoWlOok as if you
had seen ghost"
"Be quiet, dear" was the weary reply.
$50 to church without me; / do not
care to 60"
Miss Bella thought of happy expe-
dent with which to rouse her friend.
"Very well, dear, | will leave you
with great pleasure. | heard Sir Des-
mOnd Vane's musical voice just now,
tenderly inquiring of you, so bye-bye!
| hope you will enjoy your tete-a-tete
with the dear old gentleman"
"Oh, Bella, is that truer"
The real terror in Ethel's tones forced
a more correct reply.
well, not exactly; but he is coming
over this morning. Cyril has just told
me so; therefore you had better come
to church. Lots of the men are going
with us; but if you are good you shall
walk with Charlie and me. OF course
he will grumble, poor boy. No matter;
when we are married he will be only too
happy for someone to intrude, so he
must make the best of it now. Come,
Cissie. the air will do you good, and
the bright sun will clear away all cob
webs and Long Daddys caught therein
from your poor aching brain"
Half an hour later saw most of. the
guests assembled in the hall of the
Manor House, preparatory to starting
for church.
During the sermon Ethel bent and
whispered to Bella, in awe-stricken
tones, ooh. Bell. have lost one of my
gloves! pulled it off to gather that
piece of ivy, just before we came into
church"
"What, his gloves?"
"Yes. Oh, what shall do?"
at is bore, as they cost a lot, and
were awfully pretty" was the practical
reply.
"As if l cared only for that" said
poor little Ethel, in low reprOachful
tones.
While this scene was being enacted
within the precincts of CarlingfOrd
Church, another of the persons con-
cerned in this comedy of errors" was
walking hurriedly down the lane en-
route for the station.
What is it that causes the man to
start, then, bending, lift something
softly, tenderly, from the ground, as If
it were endowed with precious life?
1t is only wOman's glove.
"My darling!-my darlingl" he muir
INJURED, as he pressed it passiOnately
to his lips; this innocent cause of all
my trouble | may at least keep i'll
memory of my madness and your dis
dain!"
Scarcely had he placed the glove in his
breast-pOcket, when he perceived that
GOOD
people were coming out of church.
Not wishing to meet "the lady of his
love-" he stepped on one side, and con-
cealed himself behind a large holly
bush while the churChgOers sauntered
by.
At last the one for whom he was so
anxiOusly watching came up, and he
could not fail to remark how SOrrOwful
and white was his little ones sweet
face.
Bella, do help me look for it! Oh, |
would give all the world to the one
who would find it for mel"
Nonsense, Ethel! Don't let's stop
freezing here. | am convinced it is lost
for ever; so come along. Charley hates
being kept standing about"
And, putting her arm through that Of
her friend, Bella FASTENED her towards
the group awaiting them.
When they had quite disappeared
Vane came from his hiding place, and
continued his way.
my little darling!" he said, aloud;
"my true woman! in spite of all your
weaknesses; and so you would give all
the world to the one who would find